Automatic draft-regulator.



T. 1. CULLEN.

AUTOMATIC DRAFT REGULATOR.

APPLICATION min APR.9.1915.

Patented May 2, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Marl

l lul .'HE COLUMBM PLANOGRAPH ,C0., wASHlNG'roN, D. C.

T. J. CULLEN.

AUTOMATIC DRAFT REGULATOR.

APPLICATION-FILED APR-9,1915.

Patented May 2, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 MLM.

THE COLUMBIA PLANQGRAPH-CD.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

, damper closed.

THOMAS J. `(lU'llIr-Illllfl, 0F JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC DRAFT-REGULATOR.

marras.

Application led April 9, 1915.

.To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS JL CULLEN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Draft-Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improve` ments in automatic draft regulators particularly applicable for use in connection with steam heating systems for dwellings and other buildings.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of automatically operated means by which the draft in the smoke liue may be governed by the quantity of water in an equalizing tank, and by which the draft may be cut olf and be made to remain in such condition so that the full benefit of the combustion of gases vwill be derived from the coal and not escape through the chimney, thus preventing consumption o-f the coal in the furnace due to negligence or carelessness and insuring that the draft shall be turned on and off at the proper time.

The invention further has for its object the combination and arrangement of means for operating the draft or retarding door to the furnace in connection with the draft in the smoke fiue as will be hereinafter specified and set forth in my appendedl claims.

The invention consists in certain combinations and arrangements of parts whereby the draft is regulated as will be hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings I have set forth a complete exampley of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the `best mode I have so far de vised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view in elevation, partly broken away for convenience of illustration, showing afurnace and equaling tank of a steam heating system having my draft regulation device utilized thereon. Fig. 2 is an enlarged, detail` vertical sectional view of the automatic device for locking the damper in closed position, and which is shown in position with the Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal longitudinal, sectional view of Fig. 2.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention I have illustrated in the drawings Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentedlillay 2, 1916.

serial No. 20,201.

a standard type of steam heating furnace 1 of any well known type, in which-the vacuum pipe 2 is passed through the furnace and into the `smoke flue iin order to induce suction throughout the steam pipes and radiators of the heating system.

The draft through the smoke Hue is controlled by the position of the damper 4 which is rotated by means of the toothed gear 5 and the toothed lever 6 which latter is pivoted at 7 outside the Hue. This lever is operated through the medium of the chain 8 which passes over a pulley 9 supported in bracket 10 and through the automatic retaining device 11 to the ioat 12 in a separated compartment 13 in the pressure tank 14. An adjustable weight 6 is carried by the lever, and this weight is lighter than the float 12 and dominated thereby. The tank also has a ioat 15 from which the chain 16 passesover pulleys 17 and 18 to the air or bottom draft door 19 of the fur nace. The water rises from the boiler' pipe 23 into tank 14 by pressure in boiler. To the end of rack arm 20 a chain is attached to draft door 19 and also attached to rack arm 20. At point 21 the chain is carried'to 4retard door 2l so that when the retard door is open draft door is closed, and when draft door 19 is open retard door 21 is closed. It will also be understood that damper 4 will be closed and the proper amount of draft from the vacuum pipe 2 will be secured. Draft door 19 and also retard door 21 will open at the regulated time, as controlled by float 15. It will be further understood that iioat 15 will regulate the retard and draft doors only.

The lioat 12 is designed to permit closing of damper 4 by weight 6 when the water in the tank rises at a pressure of 2 oz. or more.l As the water rises float 12 is lifted to `the proper starting point and thus the chimney draft is cut ofi", and when once cut off, the draft is automatically held cut off, or the damper closed, by means of the locking device 11, .until the furnace needs recoaling by furnace tender.

The locking device is indicated by the number 11 as a whole, suspended from a beam as 24. In Figs. 2, 3, 4, the locking device is shown in detail to comprise an angu lar member comprising the horizontal tube 25 and the vertically arranged tube 26. In the joint of the two tubes the pulley 27 is journaled on its pintle 28, and an upper pipe 29 With a flange 30 is attached to the device for supporting it. A guide pipe 31 may also be utilized if necessary for the chain S which passes through the angular member. The open end of the tube 25 is flared as at 32 to guide the chain 8 and a fixed lug 33 is carried by the chain to pass through the flared opening and into the tube 25. A lug 25 in the tube 25 prevents the lug 33 on the chain from passing too far toward the pulley 27 andr avoids danger of jamming the lug in j the pulley.

' A trigger' or trip 34 having a Weight 35 at its end is pivoted on its pintle 36 in the pair of ears 37 depending from the under side of the tube 25, and this trip is formed with a beveled hooked end 3S which projects into the tube through the slot 39 in the under side of the tube and just in front of the ears 37.

The normal position of the trigger or trip is as shown in Fig. 2, but it will be understood that it may be turned on its pivot 36 by the passage over the beveled hook 38 of the lug 33 on the chain, as the rounded end of the lug rides down the beveled hook in the slot 39. The Weight 35 however is suliicient to restore the trip to its position as shown after the lug has passed over the beveled hook, and in this position the trip will prevent movement of the chain to the left when the lug 33 encounters the hook 38 as in the position of Fig. 2.

Thus assuming the damper 4f to be open, and the lug 33 in position as shown in dotted lines Fig. 2, novv should the Water rise in the tank the float l2 of course Will rise With it. Thechain is slacked and this slack is taken up by the Weighted lever 6 which swings on its pivot and closes the damper 4: While at the same time pulling the chain to the right so that the lug rides down the beveled hook andl passes over it to full line position. The

trip now rights itself to position of Fig. 2

and the lug on the chain is prevented from passing the trip because of the action illustrated. Thus although the float 12 should fall due to the action of the falling Water level in the tank, it cannot overcome the load of the Weight 6 because the lug 33 in its engagement With the trip prevents the necessary pull on the chain to lift the Weight 6. In this manner the damper is locked in closed position and can only be released by withdrawal of the trip to permit passage of the lug 33 When fresh coal or a lively fire is Wanted for a given time.

This automatic locking of the parts prcvents and avoids the danger of the furnace tender leaving the damper wide open in they flue because of negligence or carelessness, and thus eliminates the possibility of fire to the dwelling and unnecessary consumption of fuel.

What I claim is l. The combination in an automatic draft regulator including an operation chain, of an angular, tubular, fixed guide member and a pulley therein for the chain, a lug fixed on the chain, said member being provided with a slot, and a Weighted, pivoted trip formed with a head projecting through said slot to coperate with said lug, as described.

2. The combination, in a steam heating system with its damper, an equalizing tank containing Water and a iioat in the tank controlling the damper, a chain operatively connecting the float and damper, a lug on the chain, and an automatic tripping device adapted to engage said lug and to hold said damper closed When abnormal pressure arises.

3. The combination in a heating system with a damper, a controlling device for opening the damper, and a chain connecting said damper and device, a tubular guiding support for the chain, a lug fixed on the chain, and a pivoted trip in the tubular support to coact with said lug to permit movement of the chain in opening the damper, but to prevent movement of the chain in reverse direction in order to hold the damper closed.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature, in presence of tivo witnesses.

THOMAS J. CULLEN. Witnesses JAMES F. IWICMULLEN, Manel-unir E. MCCORMACK.

Copiesl of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of .`La.tex1ts,l Washington, I). G. 

